Effective 5/4/2022
53F-2-507. Enhanced kindergarten early intervention program.
53F-2-507. Enhanced kindergarten early intervention program.
- (1) The state board shall, as described in Subsection (4), distribute funds appropriated under this section for an enhanced kindergarten program described in Subsection (2), to school districts and charter schools that apply for the funds.
- (2) An LEA governing board shall use funds appropriated in this section for a school district or charter school to offer an early intervention program, delivered through an enhanced kindergarten program that:
- (a) is an academic program focused on building age-appropriate literacy and numeracy skills;
- (b) uses an evidence-based early intervention model;
- (c) is targeted to at-risk students; and
- (d) is delivered through additional hours or other means.
- (3) An LEA governing board may not require a student to participate in an enhanced kindergarten program described in Subsection (2).
- (4) Except as provided in Subsection (5), the state board shall distribute funds appropriated under this section for an enhanced kindergarten program described in Subsection (2) as follows:
- (a)
- (i) the total allocation for charter schools shall be calculated by:
- (A) dividing the number of charter school students by the total number of students in the public education system in the prior school year; and
- (B) multiplying the resulting percentage by the total amount of available funds; and
- (ii) the amount calculated under Subsection (4)(a) shall be distributed to charter schools with the greatest need for an enhanced kindergarten program, as determined by the state board in consultation with the State Charter School Board;
- (i) the total allocation for charter schools shall be calculated by:
- (b) each school district shall receive the amount calculated by:
- (i) multiplying the value of the weighted pupil unit by 0.45; and
- (ii) multiplying the result by 20; and
- (c) the remaining funds, after the allocations described in Subsections (4)(a) and (4)(b) are made, shall be distributed to applicant school districts by:
- (i) determining the number of students eligible to receive free lunch in the prior school year for each school district; and
- (ii) prorating the remaining funds based on the number of students eligible to receive free lunch in each school district.
- (a)
- (5) Notwithstanding Subsection (4), the state board shall:
- (a) distribute any increased funds appropriated under this section after January 1, 2022, for a full-day kindergarten program described in Subsection 53G-7-203(5) to LEAs with the greatest need for a full-day kindergarten program, as determined by the state board; and
- (b) in making the distribution described in Subsection (5)(a), consider geography, socioeconomic need, the LEA’s receipt of ongoing federal funding, and efforts to expand full-day kindergarten statewide.
- (6) If the amount appropriated for kindergarten under this section is equal to or greater than 80% of the potential cost of adjusting the WPU weighting for a kindergarten student under Section 53F-2-302 to a full WPU, the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee shall study the feasibility of transferring kindergarten funding to the WPU.
Amended by Chapter 316, 2022 General Session